Leakproof irrigation valve



Feb. 10, 1953 R. FULLER 2,628,056

LEAKPROOF IRRIGATION VALVE Filed April 10, 1950 Snnentor EFT/1L0 FULLER.

(Zttorneg Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEAKPRO FIRRIGATION VALVE Revilo Fuller, Phoenix, Ariz. Application April 10,1950, Serial No. 154,985

1 Glaim.

This invention pertains to irrigation control valves, and isparticularly related to an improved leakproof irrigation headgate valve.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improvedlea'kproof irrigation valve which is simplein construction and operationand which is adapted to maintainhigh operating eiiiciencyover longperiods of time.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved leakproofirrigation valve having clamping means adapted to maintain a constantresilient closing pressure between the valve disc and valve seat at alltimes and for long extended periods of time.

Another object of this invention is to provide closing mechanism for anirrigation valve which utilizes the resiliency of the valve plate andspring pressure from a novel clamping lever to maintain the valve inleak tight closed condition under all operating conditions.

And it is still further an object of this invention to provide aleakproof irrigation valve with parts requiring no accurate or precisionmachining operations but which at the same time maintains proper seatingbetween the valve plate and valve seat under all types of operatingconditions.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedirrigation valve in which the valve member may be readily removed fromthe valve body and valve seat or reengaged therewith with a minimum ofefiort and skill required by the operator.

It is still another object in connection with the aforementionedimproved irrigation valve, t provide means for relatively adjusting thevalve plate and valve seat for various degrees of flow through thevalve.

Further features and advantagesof this invention will appear from adetailed description of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the utilization of theimproved leakproof irrigation valve in connection with an irrigationsystem.

Figure-2 is a plan viewof the'irrigation valve indicated by the line 2-2in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2showing the valve in clamped up condition.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the valve seat ring.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the valve plate and operating handle.

While the aforementioned irrigation valve may be used in an infinitevariety of ways in irri gation system, ior illustrative purposes thereis shown in Figure 1 an example of its use in connection with a mainirrigation ditch or canal it which is preferably lined with cement I I.Suita ble iheadgate discharge pipes 12 may be pro vided through theshoulder 13 of the irrigation ditch or canal which discharge intolateral canals or drainage ditches l4 from the opening 15.

The irrigationvalve proper comprises a main body portion or valve seatring member 16 which has suitable lugs I! welded integrally therewithwhich are embedded in the cement lining II or by'eny other suitablemeans secured t the irrigation ditch or dischargepipe 12. The ring l6provided with a mitered edge I 8 so as to form a valve seat l9 which isengaged by the surface 20 'of a rubber'or similar resilient compositionmaterial 2] which is fitted around the edge of the thin-valve disc 22 ina manner as best shown in Figure 3.

Welded or otherwise secured integral to the member I6 is the bracket,member 23 which projects outwardly beyond the valve seat I 9 and hasformed in its outer end a rectangular slot 24. Substantiallydiametrically opposite the member 23 is formed a second member known asthe latching member 25 which is securely welded or otherwise formedintegral with the rim IS. The member 25 is similarlyprovided with a slot25 the upper portion of which is cut away at 21 to allow entrance of thehandle portion 28 of the bow-shaped control lever 29. The opposite endof the bow-shaped lever 29 is provided with a hooked end at 30 includingthe hook notch 36a. and the arcuate portionfSflb which enters into theslot 24 in the member 23 and hooks around the outer side thereof as}best seen in Figure 2 so that the lever 29 cannot be disengaged from theslot 24 unless it is swung from the diametral position shownat 29a inFigure 2 to a position 29b.

In the center of the valve disc 27 is fixed a suitable stud or bolt 3|secured to the plate by means of the nut 32 and; washer 33. The stud 3|projects upwardly through an elongated transverse slot 34 formed in thelever 29. On the upper portion of the stud 3| is provided the nut 35which is held inplace by the lock nut 36 so as to allow freedom ofmovement of the valve plate or disc 22 transversely of the lever 29 andat the same time to provide a certain amount of universal floatingmovement of the disc 22 on this lever 29. The valve disc 22 at all timesis under the control of the movements of the lever 29 by means of itshandle 28 as desired by the operator.

When it is desired to close the valve the lever 23 is positioned asshown in Figure 2 in the diametral position 29a, with the valve disc 22centered over the valve seat E9. The handle portion 28 of the lever 29is then pressed downwardly or toward the member 25 to have it fullyenter through the slot 21. The operator then moves the lever slightly toone side or the other to latch it under the surfaces 37 or 28 associatedwith the slot 26 so as to latch the lever 29 in valve closed position.Under these conditions the surface 39 of the bow-shaped lever 29 pressesagainst the top surface 49 of the nut 32 to force the valve disc 22 andits resilient seal member 2| against the valve seat I9 in such a mannermaintains a constant resilient back up pressure against the disc 22 atall times. In addition to this resilient back up structure, the thindisc member 22 is also of resilient character so that it may readily andproperly seat itself against the valve seat 19 despite the fact thatthis surface I9 is not necessarily highly accurate or free r.

of corrosion or slight foreign matter such as grass or straw whichinvariably is present in a valve system of this type. The disc shapedmemoer is capable of adjusting its outer rim portion to any suchirregularities and at the same time is slightly depressed at its centerportion 4! to provide additional resilient back up pressure to maintainthe surface 29 of the gasket 2! always in forceful engagement with thevalve seat 19. By this arrangement long closed condition of the valvecan be had without leakage developing as in cases of screw operated orsimilar rigid lever operated valves in which the gasket member 2-) maysettle or compress over long closed condition periods to ultimatelycause leakage of the valve.

When it is desired to open the valve to let flow from the mainirrigation intothe lateral M for example, the operator merelykicks thelever or knocks it with an irrigation shovel or club until the handleportion 28 comes into alignment with the slot portion 21 whereupon theresiliency of both the valve seat and the bow-shaped lever causes thevalve to instantly open and break its seat. The operator then may swingthe lever transversely of the discharge pipe 12, which now clears overthe top surface 42; of the member 25, to one side or the other to someposition such as 280 t allow the desired flow to enter the dischargepipe l2, the valve disc 22..merely sliding Y In this manner the valveis' 4 from the mainirrigation canal H) to the lateral M.

It is also to be noted that the valve disc 22 may readily be removedfrom operative position for replacement of the gasket 2| or otherexamination by simply detaching the chain 43 completely and swinging thelever arm over to the position 291) as described whereupon the end 39may be detached from the slot 24 in the member 23 and the entire valvedisc and lever assembly removed from operative position to any remotepoint for examination or work upon it.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention, what isclaimed is:

In an irrigation valve, a valve seat ring memher, a valve seat on theouter end of said ring member, a valve disc adapted to engage said valvethat the bow-shaped condition of the lever 29 seat, a bracket fixed onthe periphery of said rin member having an axially disposed portionhaving a rectangular opening extending radially of said ring member, asecond bracket fixed on the periphery of said ring member at a pointdiametrically opposite said first mentioned bracket having an axiallydisposed portion with a T-slot formed therein in a direction radiallydisposed relative to said ring member, a bowshaped control lever havingits convex portionfacing toward said valve disc, a hooked end on one endof said lever including, a hook portion disposed in a plane parallel tosaid valve disc, a hooknotch in one side of said hook portion opening ina direction tangentially of said ring member, and an arcuate portion onthe outer edge of said hooked end radially disposed relative to the rootof said hook notch at a distance equal to the width of the slot formedin said first mentioned bracket so as to restrict radial movement ofsaid lever relative to said ring member, a handle portion formed on theother end of said lever adapted to engage in said T-slot in said secondbracket, and

means for mounting said disc on said lever.

REVILO FULLER.

REFERENCES CITEE) The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Great Britain of 1939

